1. The network that rewrites itself

William Gibson’s Neuromancer returns because the desktop’s network is approaching the same idea: a mesh of cells that find paths around failures without a central map. Before that autonomy is trusted, the network must be tested. The next test after thermal balance is the network reconfiguration test.

This entry picks the next test after the thermal balance campaign.

2. The test queue

After the thermal balance test, the next tests in rough order are:

  • Network reconfiguration test: weak federation behavior when cells appear and disappear.
  • Autonomous swap demonstration: commanded or autonomous cell replacement in a representative environment.
  • Integrated system test: power, data, thermal, and mechanical systems exercised together.
  • End-to-end mission simulation: a multi-orbit scenario combining all domains.

3. The chosen next test

The next test will be the network reconfiguration test. This follows the self-reconfiguring network arc in entries 425 through 428 and the storage healing topic just chosen. It asks whether the desktop’s cells can discover each other, route around failures, and maintain data paths when cells are added or removed.

The test should use a representative set of cells with redundant paths. Cells will be powered off, disconnected, and reconnected while traffic flows. The network must reconfigure without human intervention and without losing critical traffic.

4. Why this test next

The network reconfiguration test is the next logical step because:

  • It tests a different domain — logical rather than thermal or electrical.
  • It provides data needed for the autonomy software and the federated storage design.
  • It is a prerequisite for the autonomous swap demonstration, since a swapped cell must be automatically integrated into the network.
  • It connects directly to the next wondering topic: federated storage healing.

5. What this changes

  • The test queue is now explicit and updated.
  • The next test after thermal balance is the network reconfiguration test.
  • The reading, wondering, and testing cycles are aligned for the next phase.